Rangers Inquire On Roy Oswalt?

Rangers President Nolan Ryan called to inquire on Roy Oswalt, reports Mark Berman of FOX 26 Sports. Yesterday, however, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan wrote that the Rangers are not going to get involved in Oswalt trade talks, as it's unlikely they could even take on a fraction of his contract. Plus, Sullivan learned from GM Jon Daniels that adding starting pitching is not a high priority. Also yesterday, ESPN's Tony Jackson said the Astros are not looking to trade Oswalt at this point.

Buster Olney wondered today if the Rangers could take on a less-expensive player like Cliff Lee. Olney's example: if the Rangers convinced the Mariners to take Rich Harden and his contract, they could offer better prospects for Lee. We've seen the Dodgers make payroll-neutral trades in recent years, even giving up Carlos Santana and Jon Meloan for Casey Blake in 2008.

Comments

Considering that Oswalt has been said to have the Rangers on his short list of teams he would play for, it would be foolish for the Rangers to not kick the tires on the idea and see what the Astros are looking for in return and/or willing to pay.

Exactly. That being said, when you are dealing with a delusional owner like Uncle Drayton, the Rangers are going to probably be asked for Feliz, Holland, Josh and lord knows how much else talent in exchange for Oswalt. Where Scott Boras is shrewd in asking for the moon, Drayton is just plain unrealistic.

Myself and quite a few other Braves fans feel that once Jurrjens comes back healthy h coud become trade bait to get an impact bat or solid load of prospects with Medlen, Minor or Resop as capable replacements in Jurrjens’ spot in the rotation.

The Rangers have the prospects or impact OF bats to aquire a top tier starter like Jurrjens who still only makes 400k this year, solving any financial obsticles.

I think that if the Braves were to deal JJ they would do it prior to the season. He’s been a better second-half pitcher in his career and trading him now would mean trading the best months of this season away. Serious question: With the Braves still in contention, is this really a move they would make?

I’d like to see the Rangers get Roy. Their line up is just ridiculous if they add a top of the rotation starter like Lee or Oswalt they will be a tough team to contend with. Wish they had some more nationally televised games they’re my favorite team to watch.

They’ve mopped up playing horrible teams in the AL Central and West. They’ve gotten smoked playing AL East squads – NYY, Boston, and Toronto. The Tigers are the ONLY team with a winning record that they’ve won a series against.

The point is winning the division pennant for now. If the Rangers can do that, then expanding the payroll to levels closer to the Yankees and Red Sox and attracting that level of top flight players could put them in better position to contend with the AL East teams. It makes sense that the Yankees should cream the Rangers right now, when they are paying hundreds of millions for the best players money can buy.

I think a half-season rental of Lee makes more sense given this teams financial uncertainty, something like Chris Davis, plus another good but not blue chip prospect might be able to get it done. I’d really like to see Texas make a playoff push this year.

I guess Davis would be more of a 3rd player, with 2 B/B+ prospects going as well, and I did somehow totally forget they’re in the same division. But the M’s probably know that Texas won’t be able to retain Lee so they might be more open to trading. Davis has that HR power the M’s could use so that’s why I suggested him.

No way do I see a deal happening between the Mariners and Rangers. I won’t say it is impossible, but deals to benefit your division opponent don’t really happen very often, do they? I could see Ryan just asking Uncle Drayton about Oswalt–kicking the tires on him, so to speak. Obviously, nothing could happen until just before the trade deadline and the Rangers will want to see if their current starters can keep them in contention or if they would be better off pursuing some bullpen help instead.

Agreed Madman. These intradivision trades just don’t happen very often. A Texas rotation that includes Lee or Oswalt with that offensive power would be tough to deal with. Though I don’t think the M’s want to help the Rangers make a playoff push just like the Rangers don’t want to help the M’s build towards their future with good prospects.

Does anyone have an idea of what it would take for teams to acquire Oswalt or Cliff Lee? As an M’s fan, its becoming more obvious that the M’s are going to be rebuilding and not contending. I’m pretty sure that with the demand for Lee that Zduriencik will probably ask for a package that would be better than what he could get in prospects from the two first round picks that the M’s would acquire if they just let Lee walk at the end of the season.

The Indians got Matt LaPorta, Zach Jackson, and Rob Bryson for half a season of Sabathia. I’d say the M’s could get something close to this, but not quite as good of a package considering C.C. was younger and considered better at the time of the trade.